Staff Spotlight-Meet Ned

Ned Smithfield has been bringing energy, positivity and a love of the outdoors to the Brighton Campus since 2017. With teaching experience across Australia, the US and Africa, Ned brings a global perspective to his role as our PE teacher and he is passionate about helping students grow through movement, teamwork and challenge.

Whether cooking meals on camp, beach jogs with his dog Pepe, or cheering on the Demons, Ned is all about connection and community.

We spent five minutes chatting with Ned to  learn more about what motivates him, what inspires him, and why he believes in the power of ‘the vibe’.

Full Name: Ned Smithfield

Position: Brighton Physical Expression Teacher

How long have you been at MMC?

Since 2017.

Where were you beforehand?

Previously I have taught at Windhoek International School in Namibia, The Earth School in New York City, Elonera Montessori School in Wollongong, East Sandringham PS in Melbourne, and O’Loughlin Catholic College in Darwin.

What do you love about working at MMC?

The thoughtful, curious and brilliant students.

The caring and helpful community of parents and carers.

My passionate, supportive and fun-loving colleagues.

As Dennis Denuto from the film The Castle says, ‘the vibe’ of the place is like no other school I have worked in.

What inspires you as a Montessori educator/team member?

Seeing and celebrating ‘the wins’ – and I don’t mean the type of wins with tournaments and trophies. I mean ‘the wins’ when we are challenged and maybe even struggle in that challenge, but with persistence, grit and love, we then overcome these challenges and experience the break through moment – the a-ha moment!

What is your most memorable teaching moment ?

I love being outdoors and being active in nature with students, so all the camps, sports days and adventure experiences leap to mind. But my first Snowsports trip in 2023 at Mt Buller was such an exceptional experience with the 16 students who attended. I was blown away by not only their growth on the slopes, but how they grew and managed looking after themselves and each other in the lodge we stayed. They cooked all our meals together, cleaned spaces and had lots of fun playing pool, boardgames, trivia and movie nights.

What’s your most memorable moment as a school student?

Attending an international sports tournament in Italy in Year 12 to play rugby union against teams from all over the world. I met so many people my age from different countries. It was an eye-opening experience and led me to have a love of travelling ever since.

M funniest moment was when my Mum’s van sliding door fell off its hinges when she picked me up from school one day. My Year 6 teacher, Mr Fitz, had to come and help us remove the door from its final hinge and put the door inside the van. We drove away from school with no door on the side of the van and everyone having a good laugh at us!

What are five interesting things about you we may not know?

1. I have an aunty who lived in Botswana for 40-years and I was fortunate to visit her on two occasions in her small rural village.
2. My best job ever was working in a local pizza shop with good mates for over 10 years as a teenager and uni student.
3. I studied and lived in Copenhagen – the city of bike lanes – during my university studies.
4. I am embarrassed to say that I modelled clothing for Osh Kosh B’gosh as an 8-year old.
5. I once had to be picked up from my primary school because my finger was stuck in a steel cricket wicket.

What does your weekend look like?   

Friday night family movies, watching the Melbourne Demons (hopefully win), running kids to soccer, dance, Auskick and swimming, sneaking away for surfs on the rare occasion, cooking meals for the week, jumping on the trampoline and jogging down the beach with my dog, Pepe!

What is your favourite Maria Montessori quote, and why?   

“Tennis, football and the like do not have for their sole purpose the accurate moving of a ball but they challenge us to acquire a new skill – something lacking before – and this feeling of enhancing our abilities is the real source of delight in the game.”

— Dr. Maria Montessori (The Child, Society and the World: Unpublished Speeches and Writings)

I love how this quote captures the core Montessori principles: the joy of self-improvement and intrinsic motivation. It reminds us that games and sports aren’t just about competition or winning — they’re about growth, skill development and personal satisfaction. In Montessori Physical Expression, this philosophy aligns perfectly with how movement is viewed as a pathway to whole-child development — supporting not only the physical, but also the social, emotional and cognitive aspects of learning.